AHS Clinical Information Systems

A revised information sharing approach

August 30, 2017

A revised approach to information sharing among users of the Alberta Health Services (AHS) Clinical Information Systems (CIS) will take effect January 1, 2018, pending approval from a number of key stakeholders. Stakeholders include AHS, Alberta Medical Association (AMA), College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA), University of Alberta (U of A) and University of Calgary (U of C). This development of a revised approach has been facilitated by Alberta Health (AH).

Under the new approach, AHS will be the sole custodian of health information, with clinicians acting as “affiliates” for the purposes of information sharing within AHS CISs. This will mean a change in assumptions about how some physicians relate to AHS CISs. A prior “Information Sharing Framework” contemplated ambulatory care physician “co-custodians” for some uses of the eCLINICIAN CIS in the Edmonton Zone and the Sunrise Clinical Manager CIS in the Calgary Zone.

Communications activities throughout this process will need to ensure that physicians within and outside of AHS:

Are aware the change is underway.

Understand why it’s important.

Understand how it will impact information sharing assumptions in their ambulatory care practice.

Understand the benefits of the new approach for current CISs and for the AHS Provincial CIS.

Have access to relevant documentation or have high level understanding of the changes.

Have opportunity and means to get their questions answered.

With these considerations in mind, a comprehensive communications plan is being developed to help with the transition, ensuring alignment with key stakeholders when it comes to messaging, interventions and timelines. Physicians can look to the following for communications and engagement:

Development of informational page on AHS external website (ahs.ca/medicalstaff) as a central location to direct clinicians.